Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on X @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
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The group’s chief operating officer said the Dreamers still have more than $1 billion in team acquisition capital under letters of intent as it continues pursuit of the Rays or any other MLB team. -
Court documents show Pinellas County's state attorney's office concluded “the facts and circumstances revealed do not warrant prosecution at this time.” -
A final vote from the Florida Board of Governors is expected Nov. 6. Work on the 27-acre first phase could start this spring and be completed in 2028. -
Dr. Rick Workman, once the Orlando group's primary financier, is now the third largest investor in the assemblage planning to keep the team in Tampa Bay. Law firm owner John Morgan says he is also out. -
With the 2-0 start against ranked teams, the Bulls are emerging as the class of the Group of Five conferences, with spots in the AP and coaches polls. Coach Alex Golesh will point out the season is very young. -
The celebration is just beginning as Tampa Bay kicks off its golden anniversary. But there are games to play — and perhaps more history to make — beginning Sunday at Atlanta. -
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said he wants information about how Harjinder Singh, who can't read road signs in English, was issued a commercial driver's license. -
Early assessments suggested Tampa might have to start from scratch. However, after reviewing engineering reports, a plan has been initiated to cut years off the time needed to reopen. -
The split affects Florida Blue’s employer-sponsored plans, Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage, Medicare Advantage, and members of other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, including Anthem and Elevance. -
Officials said positive tests were taken from chickens in Oldsmar and east Tarpon Springs. In response, mosquito control is initiating enhanced treatments such as additional truck fogging and aerial larviciding.
